Commercial eBooks
Commercial eBooks
The recent development of eBook readers like the Kindle, Sony Reader and the iPad, plus software for reading eBooks on iPods, PDAs and mobile phones has encouraged publishers to produce books in electronic formats. There are several different electronic formats and the most common commercial formats are EPUB and AZW (the Kindle format).
The new Kindle and the iPad can both can display text in a fairly large font size, and both have text-to-speech output (although not all Kindle eBooks have the text-to-speech turned on - check before you buy). You need good dexterity to operate the readers though, and there's no sockets for switches or other controls. RNIB have a comparison of eBook readers and so does the eBook Readers Review site.
You can read eBooks on your computer with free reader software (e.g. Kindle for PC and Adobe Digital Editions) but facilities and options for readers with print disabilities are still quite basic, albeit improving. On the plus side, you can navigate around the book using keyboard and mouse, so that's good for readers with physical disabilities, and you can make the text size pretty big, which is good if you can't see small print. Kindle with Accessibility PlugIn is a new version of the Kindle for PC software which has built-in text-to-speech, while the latest Adobe Digital Edition 1.8 Preview lets you read the text with Jaws (Windows) and VoiceOver (Mac) text-to-speech programs. The commercial eBook software still can't compare to reading a book with software designed for print-disabled readers though.
It's worth looking at EasyReader which is an accessible book reader software program. It's mainly for reading Daisy eBooks but it can open EPUB files as well. It has good text-to-speech and options for changing font and colours. Note however that it can only read out 'unprotected' EPUB books, and most commercial eBooks are protected to prevent copying. EasyReader costs £40.
Books for All How-To Video Guides
- Click here to see how to find books in alternative formats.
- Click here to see how to find commercial eBooks.
- Click here to see how to find books in Braille.
- Click here to see how to find audio books.
- Click here to see how to find textbooks in PDF.
| Supplier | Description | Formats | User |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial publishers and retailers | Do an internet search for 'eBooks' and you will find a large number of retailers | Various, but usualy: EPUB, PDF (ADE), LIT, MobiPocket | Anyone |
Eduserv eBook Finder | Type the ISBN of the book you want and this free web service will search the WorldCat database and tell you if it's available in eBook, audio or other formats. | Various | Anyone |
Amazon Kindle books | There are over 700,000 Kindle eBooks available on Amazon. You read Kindle books either on a Kindle eBook reader, or on your computer using free Kindle software. The Kindle Reader screen is easier to look at than a computer screen, and you can change the font and size, so people with reading difficulties or dyslexia may find it accessible. You can also change the font size (up to about 36 pt) and so it's of interest to people with a visual impairment. It's got (quite basic) text-to-speech which again is of interest to users with reading or visual issues. (Note that not all Kindle books have the text-to-speech switched on - make sure the book is 'Speech Enabled' before you buy it, if you want to have it read out.) The buttons controls are small and you need good physical dexterity and so it's not an option for many with physical disabilities. Kindle Reader software is available for Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad and Blackberry devices so you can read Kindle books on these devices too. The standard Kindle Reader software for PC and Mac lets you change the font size and background colour (white, black or sepia) and the maximum font size is very large indeed, so that's good for people with visual impairment. The font is serifed and there's no text-to-speech and most of the general text readers can't 'get at' the text and so can't read it. Kindle Software on a PC or Mac is a good option for readers with physical impairments because you can navigate the book with keyboard, mouse or switches. The new Kindle with Accessibility Plugin provides text-to-speech with a choice of male or female American voices. You can't use other voices on your computer and it doesn't highlight the text as it reads. | Kindle (AZW), mobi, PDF | Anyone |
iBookStore | Apple's iBookStore could do for eBooks what the iPod did for downloadable music. The iPad has a good range of font options and built-in text-to-speech. Watch this space. | EPUB | Anyone |
Pottermore | The new JK Rowling web site which opens in October 2011 will have eBook versions of the Harry Potter books, although we don't know yet how accessible they will be. | not yet known | Anyone |
| WH Smith | WH Smith has over 100,00 eBooks available in EPUB and Adobe Digital Editions PDF. You can read the books on eBook readers from Sony, Samsung, Elonex and iRiver or on your PC, with the free Adobe Digital Editions. With Adobe Digital Editions you can change the font size, but you can't change the colours or font (it uses a serif font). Unlike the Kindle software, you can select and read out (some) books with text-to-speech software, but many of the commercial eBooks are protected and so again, you can't 'get at' the text to have it read out. | EPUB, PDF (ADE) | Anyone |
| Waterstones | Waterstones sell EPUB eBooks and eBook readers from Sony, Elonex and iRiver. You can read the eBooks on your computer using free Adobe Digital Editions. With Adobe Digital Editions you can change the font size, but you can't change the colours or font (it uses a serif font). Unlike the Kindle software, you can select and read out (some) books with text-to-speech software, but many of the commercial eBooks are protected and so again, you can't 'get at' the text to have it read out. | EPUB | Anyone |
